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stand in awe

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

had to make this one a little blurry so you couldn't see the student really, but this was what friday consisted of.

Last
Friday I took my students to the NC Aquarium. I don't talk about my work
too much on here, but to fill y'all in this is my last week at my current
school and even my current county. I will be starting a new job and a new
adventure next Monday! So last Friday was like our last Hoorah - our last
intense bonding session. And let me tell you I love my kids. More
than I ever thought I would when I began teaching. So back to the field
trip. The Aquarium. So beautiful. Then we stopped by the
beach and let the kids run and play in the sand on the way back to school.

Why am I telling you about my frolics with awkward middle schoolers?
Because they inspired me. You see, I teach ESL (English as a Second
Language) and every single one of the students that went on that field trip
were born somewhere other than the United States - some Burma, some Yemen, some
Guatemala and the list goes on. And despite their roots in these
beautiful countries, some of these students had never seen the things we saw
Saturday. The fish and the crocodiles. I mean my kids weren't like
your typical middle school group running around. They would just stop and
stare. Stare at the huge glass glasses of fish - moving from one exhibit
to the next with their jaws on the floor. Then the beach. Something
I take for granted every single day. Some of these kids had never seen
the beach. I remember standing and talking to the other teachers about
something random and then we all noticed one our students just standing, arms
spread open, staring at the sea. It was beautiful. The awe
these kids felt was beyond words. Their
innocence, grateful hearts and wide eyes is something I hope to carry with me
forever.

I hope that I stand and look at
the sea in awe every day. I pray I teach
my children to count their blessings. I
hope I teach them to be blown away my God’s miracles every chance they
get. I hope I am a little more like my
students. Students whom “learn from me”
every day, but students who teach me more than they know. So here’s to stepping back. To allowing ourselves to be blown away. Because look around, there is so much awe
waiting to be noticed.

Happy
Tuesday sweet friends! Here are a few
more pictures from my IPhone.

11 comments
:

Amen to that!A charity I used to work with took inner city teenagers to the countryside for some camping and some of them didn't know that frogs actually existed in real life. They thought frogs were fictional.Your job must be great in that you get to show them some of these beauties.

that is so exciting! you sound like the kind of teacher that i would have liked to have had had i taken ESL!i was an english major in college and took linguistics classes in college and got a chance to sit in on a middle school ESL class..there was SO much energy in that room! but i enjoyed it and have considered teaching someday!well, i am looking forward to future posts from you!your newest follower,morgan

this is seriously lovely! i love how you truly appreciate the innocence and wonder your kids have at the natural beauties in this world:)i can't wait to skype darlin. let me know when works!! love Katie

Kids are such a pure joy to watch sometimes! They have no idea (mostly) about material things and the monetary value of things which is showing us how it works to truly appreciate. I love your post and I feel inspired right away!

Today I went to the beach with my puppy Josie -- we don't do it every day (it is a 20 min car ride) but I should remind myself to be grateful a little more often for those fantastic views.

Feeling so sorry that you have to leave your kids! An ending always means a new beginning -- and I am sure there are great pupils waiting for you already!